On Sunday afternoon, the ladies of the Tiara Tea Society honored the pretty young girl in the pink dress, who was wearing a pink bow in her hair and a pink bracelet circling her wrist. Ceniyah Dotson, now 3, stole the hearts of everyone in the Le Pavillon building in East Memphis.

“She is oblivious to what this is all about. That’s a wonderful thing,” said Circuit Court Judge Gina Higgins, who presented Ceniyah with her own tiara on Sunday.

She was just 2 months old when her uncle, Jessie Dotson, killed her parents, two brothers and two other people in what has become known as the Lester Street Massacre.

“She’s obviously a special child,” said Ray Lepone, who, along with fellow prosecutor Reggie Henderson, persuaded a jury to sentence Jessie Dotson to death. “She’s got such a great personality.”

The society, formed in 2006 to help at least one girl a year in dire need, hoped to raise at least $3,000 on Sunday to help with Ceniyah’s physical therapy as well as any work she may need with a child psychologist.

“We knew in our hearts it was the right thing,” said Eva Lynn Bishop, one of the society’s founders. “This is about helping a little child who’s trying to survive.”

Since she was so young when the attack happened, Ceniyah may never remember a thing about it.

At least, that was the fervent hope at Sunday’s tea party.

“Her older brothers, they can remember,” said her grandmother and guardian, Ida Anderson. “But she does not. This is a blessing.”

The women gathered Sunday watched her, fierce smiles on their faces, their protective instincts ignited. When one of the speakers mentioned what happened that day, Ceniyah’s aunt, Cassandra Adrine, kissed her softly on the cheek.

“She is oblivious to what this is all about. That’s a wonderful thing. She’s just a little girl,” said Circuit Court Judge Gina Higgins, who presented Ceniyah with her own tiara.

Sunday was all about celebrating the beautiful young girl who radiated such joy, even if she seemed slightly bewildered about the fuss everyone was making over her.

Clutching her teddy bear, Ceniyah smiled every couple of minutes, a grin that quickly swallowed her face. Then she’d scrunch up her eyes just so, a happy finish to that beautiful smile.

A stranger waved, Ceniyah waved back. Then came that grin. She sat patiently in her seat, shimmying in happiness every couple of minutes. Her grandma gave her a sip of tea and a funny-looking piece of food. She gingerly tried both. Then another grin.

“She’s a happy 3-year-old who loves to sing and dance, watch TV and terrorize her brothers,” her grandmother said. “Ceniyah’s a survivor.”

Donation information

For more information on how to donate, visit the Tiara Tea Society, visit our donations page or call 901-210-3516.

Coronation Tea for Ceniyah Dotson

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – This is a chance for high tea for a great cause and a chance to pull out your inner princess. Eva Lynn Bishop, president of the Tiara Tea Society, and Vicki Arnold, with Victoria’s Traveling Tea Parties join FOX13 with more on the ‘Tea’ for Ceniyah Dotson.

The Tiara Tea Society offered its resources to Ceniyah Dotson, the only young girl to survive the Lester Street Massacre. “She is Princess Ceniyah the Eighth,” said Judge Gina Higgins of Shelby County Circuit Court. Ceniyah Dotson was just three months old when a jury said her uncle tried to kill her. It happened in the worst mass murder in Memphis history. “She had a very wounded leg. It’s very usable, but needs a whole lot of work,” said Tiara Tea Society President Eva Lynn Bishop.

“She’s doing good,” said her grandmother Ida Anderson. “She loves to play, and she loves music.”

Ceniyah Dotson’s uncle, Jessie Dotson, was convicted of killing her mother, father and brother, along with three other adults and another child. He also tried to kill her other brothers, ages five and nine at the time.

Anderson is now raising the three survivors. She said three-year-old Ceniyah Dotson enjoys being a princess.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “These are her colors, she loves purple and pink.”

“I see examples of courage every day in people who simply will not let their circumstances dictate who they are or who they will become,” said Holder. “We need to look no farther than Ceniyah to know what courage is.”

The Tiara Tea Society reached out to Ceniyah Dotson’s attorneys a year ago, but they urged them to wait until after Jessie Dotson’s trial.

Our very special little girl this year is a native Memphian, Ceniyah Dotson. Ceniyah was just a few months old when she was seriously wounded at the scene of a brutally violent crime in Memphis, in March of 2008. The baby girl is now a three year old little lady. She loves to wear ruffles and clomp around the house in her grandmother’s high heels. Definitely a Tiara Tea lady! Our esteemed keynote speaker is Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, Janice Holder. The Honorable Mayor Wharton will crown Ceniyah personally. This event is a new and healing start for Ceniyah Dotson, her family and we hope, for the City of Memphis. We will be celebrating this amazing little survivor and raising funds for possible psychological therapy and rehab for a deeply scarred leg. Please join us in this beautiful and positive occasion and help us sponsor this child. As always, we thank you for continuing to celebrate the gifts of phenomenal women through your support!